ACE

23½rd annual ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute
POTOMAC RIVER RUN MARATHON & HALF
Saturday, October 17, 2026


Start times:
8:00 AM FULL Marathon and 9:00 AM HALF Marathon
Fully-Automatic Timing (FAT) using Webscorer®

7:00 AM FULL & HALF
Please report your hand-times and so we can list them in the results (hand-times can be used to qualify for Boston)

We can accept the first 350 entrants

www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/dean


  • Dear marathoner and half marathoner,
    •

  • 2026 Awards
  • 2026 SHF Grand Prix

  • On the historic C&O Canal Towpath
  • Registration

  • Entry fees:

  • Sponsor the race:

  • Features:

    • In memory of Dean Shulman
    (September 25, 1961 - May 8, 2012)

    Dean
    Washington Post obituary
    In memory of Dean, from The Book of Jewish Common Prayer
    and
    and in memory of Wendy Martinez (1983-2018)

    Wendy3 Wendy2

    Fletcher's Cove  

     

  • Directions to Fletcher's Cove:
    • From the east (Georgetown) or Arlington, Alexandria, and points south, go to Key Bridge
    • If from DC east of Arizona Avenue, head for M Street NW westbound
    • Pass the stoplight at Key Bridge and continue on westbound M Street NW
    • If from Virginia, cross Key Bridge and turn left onto westbouund M Street NW
    • At the stoplight at Foxhall Road, M Street NW ends
    • Bear left onto Canal Road NW
    • Follow the stone wall on the left side of Canal Road NW
    • At the stoplight at Reservoir Road NW, look for the first break in the stone wall and the big white historic Abner Cloud House, the home of the last lockkeeper of the C&O Canal
    • Turn left at the stoplight to take a ramp down to free parking for 85 cars, also permanent and portable toilets
    • Notice the road on the right side of the upper lot, which is badly rutted and takes you through a tunnel under the C&O Canal and Towpath and opens to a parking lot for 225 cars
    • When upper lot is full, we direct you to the tunnel
    • Beware of the potholes and ruts on the right side of the road thru the tunnel

    • If from DC west of Arizona Avenue, take Arizona Avenue south to Canal Road NW
    • Turn left and follow the directions below

    • If from MD, head toward MacArthur Drive
    • Turn onto >Arizona to go south to Canal Road NW
    • From I-495 Capital Beltway, take Exit 41 WEST onto Clara Barton Parkway. When you pass Chain Bridge, Clara Barton Parkway ends and Canal Road NW begins
    • Follow the stone wall on the right side of Canal Road NW
    • At the stoplight at Reservoir Road NW, look for the first break in the stone wall and the big white historic Abner Cloud House, the home of the last lockkeeper of the C&O Canal
    • You can try to make a really sharp right turn to go down the ramp, but that's not safe
    • Your safest tactic is to turn left at the stoplight, proceed up Reservoir Road NW, make a safe U-turn or turn on one of the side streets, then turn back on Reservoir Road NW southbound
    • Then at the stoplight. cross Canal Road NW and turn right to go down the ramp to Fletcher's Cove

  • Course Maps:
  • Course:
    • Totally flat dirt-packed gravel trail, alongside scenic C&O Canal Towpath
    • The half marathon is out 6.55 miles to Towpath mile 9.65 and back
    • The towpath runs the length of 184.5 miles along the scenic C&O Canal
    • Made of crushed stone and packed dirt, it is perfect for running, biking, and recreational events and programs
    • It is mostly a flat route combined with some hills, turns, and medium or moderate terrain, but it's straight out'n'back where we run this race
    • Please be courteous to other park users. We do not have exclusive use of the trail -- we share it with other runners, walkers, and bicyclists
  • Aid stations with water & Gatorade at 4 locations accessible from Canal Road NW & EASTBOUND Clara Barton Parkway:
    • Fletcher's Cove, miles 0.0 & 13.1
    • Lock 5, miles 1.8 & 11.3
    • Lock 7, miles 3.8 & 9.3
    • Lock 10, miles 5.8 & 7.3

      Spectator Access:

    • At the 4 aid stations above, plus:
    • Start / midpoint / finish line at at Fletcher's Cove, miles 0.0 & 13.1
    • Under Chain Bridge, down the spiral ramp to C&O Canal Towpath, where Canal Road NW becomes Clara Barton Parkway NW, miles 1.0 & 12.1 -
            • A good place to watch in case of rain | Free parking on the canal side of Clara Barton Parkway
    • Lock 5 -- off-road parking on the south side of Clara Barton Parkway, legally accessible only from eastbound Clara Barton Parkway -- we would never suggest crossing the median strip
    • Lock 6 -- limited parking
    • Lock 7 -- ample parking
    • Lock 8 -- limited parking
    • Lock 9 -- limited parking
    • Lock 10 -- ample parking
    • Lock 11 -- accessible only on foot from Lock 10 on C&O Canal Towpath
    • Turnaround point (at the end of the blue line) -- accessible only on foot from Lock 10 on C&O Canal Towpath
  • Headphones and water belts:
    • Re personal listening devices, we follow USATF rule 144.3.b (Assistance to Athletes):
    • Because we must be able to communicate instructions to you at certain points in our races, we specifically allow wearing headphones during the race, but we specifically prohibit wearing headphones at these points:
        • Start line
        • Aid stations
        • Turnaround
        • Finish line
  • Questions?
  • Benefits
  • 2028 Boston Marathon Qualifier

  • Course

  • Course elevation profile: -------------------------------
  • Keepers
  • Directions

  • Drop-off instructions
  • Logistics
    •

  • Assisted by

  • Packet Pick-ups
  • Pre-Race Dinner
    •
  • Host Hotel
    •

  • Host hotel features:

  • Nearby restaurants:

  • Race-Day Announcer:

  • Race-Day Events
  • Photography:

  • Headphones and water belts

  • Post-race

  • Past Results

    •  

  • Press Room

    •  

  • Sponsors:

    BigTonysPizzeria

    swift

    ACE
    ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute
    Seven convenient locations -- if it hurts, call ACE first at 703-205-1233

    Red Top
    Red Top Cab
    For convenient pick-up at National Airport or to / from anywhere in Northern Virginia, call Red Top Cab at 703-522-3333
    CarbBoom!
    Carb Boom! Energy Gels
    Read all about Carb BOOM! Energy Gels

    SSE
    Simone Super Energy™
    www.simonesuperenergy.com
    Read Dr. Simone's warnings about running in hot weather

    Trader Joes
    Trader Joe's
    1109 Morth Highland Street, Arlington VA 22201 (703-351-8015) and many other locations